The John Lewis Partnership has announced that James Bailey will be leaving the business at the end of September.
Bailey joined Waitrose in 2020, successfully navigating the retailer through defining chapters, including the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. Its latest full accounts made up to 25 January 2025, showed that whilst the rate of revenue growth has slowed (dropping by 1.1% since 2024), the retailer saw a rise of 4.6% on the year prior, reaching £7.3 billion.
Commenting on Bailey’s departure, Jason Tarry, chairman of the Partnership said: “James has done an outstanding job, overseeing significant transformation and growth during a period of change.
“He’s a great colleague and has been a highly valued member of the Executive Team. We will be sad to see James go but understand and respect his decision to step down after five and a half years at the helm.
“James will leave Waitrose in a much stronger position and I know will be missed by everyone.”
Bailey added: “It’s been a great privilege to lead this unique and special business and most especially to get to know all the Partners who make it what it is. I’m very proud of everything we’ve achieved together; it’s been a lot of hard work but very rewarding and I’m so happy now to see the business thriving.
“Waitrose is back on a very strong footing with record customer numbers, strong sales growth and a turnaround in profitability so after five and a half years this feels like the right time to hand over the reins. I feel confident that we’ve laid the foundations for long term success and have the opportunity now to go from strength to strength.”
The search is now on to find Bailey’s successor. In the meantime, Tina Mitchell, Waitrose’s retail director, will step into the role of interim managing director following Bailey’s departure on 30 September.
